Uplink and/or downlink signaling related to different radio access technologies

ABSTRACT

There is provided network units operating based on different radio access technologies and one or more associated wireless communication devices. In downlink, DL, a network unit of the first RAT is configured to transmit a DL carrier in a frequency channel of the first RAT that is higher than the frequency channel of the second RAT. Correspondingly, a wireless communication device is configured to receive and demodulate and/or decode the DL carrier of the first RAT. In the uplink, UL, the wireless communication device is configured to transmit an UL carrier of the first RAT in an UL frequency channel overlapping with the UL frequency channel of the second RAT. Correspondingly, the network unit is configured to receive and demodulate and/or decode the UL carrier of the first RAT.

RELATED TO DIFFERENT RADIO ACCESS TECHNOLOGIES

This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No.15/525,340, filed May 9, 2017, which is a 35 U.S.C. § 371 national phasefiling of International Application No. PCT/SE2015/051187, filed Nov.10, 2015, the disclosures of which are hereby incorporated herein byreference in their entireties.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The proposed technology generally relates to a wireless communicationdevice configured for operation in a wireless communication system and amethod of operating a wireless communication device, and network unit(s)configured for operation in a wireless communication system andmethod(s) of operating a network unit, and a network unit configured toperform management of time and/or frequency resources for radiocommunication in a wireless communication system and a correspondingmethod as well as corresponding computer programs and computer-programproducts and apparatuses.

BACKGROUND

Mobile and wireless communications technology is constantly evolving,introducing new and more advanced technologies for wirelesscommunications. With the existing wireless communication systems as abasis, next generation mobile communication technologies will be a keycomponent of the so-called Networked Society and will help realizing thevision of substantially unlimited access to information and sharing ofdata anywhere and anytime.

By way of example, 5G is an important step in the evolution of mobilecommunications. To enable connectivity for a wide range of applicationsand use cases, the capabilities of the next generation wireless accessmust extend beyond previous generations of mobile communications. Mostlikely, this will be realized through the continued development of LongTerm Evolution, LTE in combination with new 5G radio access technologies(also referred to as NX, NeXt generation). Key technology components mayfor example include extension to higher frequency bands, advancedmulti-antenna transmission, and/or flexible spectrum usage.

However, it is not yet clear how these key technology components will beimplemented and what the new radio access technologies will look like,while still being compatible or at least interoperable with existingmobile and wireless communication systems.

In fact, interoperability and/or interworking of different radio accesstechnologies is a particularly interesting challenge in general.

There is thus a general demand for improved solutions in mobile andwireless communications technology.

SUMMARY

It is an object to provide a wireless communication device configuredfor operation in a wireless communication system.

It is another object to provide a method of operating a wirelesscommunication device in a wireless communication system.

It is also an object to provide network unit(s) configured for operationin a wireless communication system.

Another object is to provide method(s) of operating a network unit in awireless communication system.

Yet another object is to provide a network unit configured to performmanagement of time and/or frequency resources for radio communication ina wireless communication system.

Still another object is to provide a method for management of timeand/or frequency resources for radio communication in a wirelesscommunication system.

It is also an object to provide corresponding computer programs andcomputer-program products. Yet another object is to provideapparatus(es) for controlling operation(s) in a wireless communicationdevice.

Still another object is to provide an apparatus for management of timeand/or frequency resources for radio communication in a wirelesscommunication system.

These and other objects are met by embodiments of the proposedtechnology.

According to a first aspect, there is provided a wireless communicationdevice configured for operation in a wireless communication system. Thewireless communication device is configured with an uplink, UL, carrierof a first radio access technology, RAT. The wireless communicationdevice is also configured with a downlink, DL, carrier of the first RAT.The wireless communication device is further configured to transmit theUL carrier of the first RAT in an uplink frequency channel overlappingwith the uplink frequency channel of a second RAT. The wirelesscommunication device is configured to receive and demodulate and/ordecode the DL carrier of the first RAT in a frequency channel of thefirst RAT that is higher than the frequency channel of the second RAT.

According to a second aspect, there is provided a method of operating awireless communication device in a wireless communication system. Themethod comprises receiving and demodulating and/or decoding downlink,DL, signaling in a DL carrier of a first radio access technology, RAT,in a frequency channel of the first RAT that is higher than thefrequency channel of a second RAT. The method also comprises preparinguplink, UL, signaling for transmission in an uplink, UL, carrier of thefirst RAT, and transmitting the UL signaling in the UL carrier of thefirst RAT in an uplink frequency channel overlapping with the uplinkfrequency channel of the second RAT.

According to a third aspect, there is provided a network unit configuredfor operation in a wireless communication system. The network unit is abase station of a first radio access technology, RAT, and the networkunit is configured to receive and demodulate and/or decode an uplink,UL, carrier of the first RAT in an uplink frequency channel overlappingwith the uplink frequency channel of a second RAT. The network unit isfurther configured to transmit a downlink, DL, carrier of the first RATin a frequency channel of the first RAT that is higher than thefrequency channel of the second RAT.

According to a fourth aspect, there is provided a network unitconfigured for operation in a wireless communication system. The networkunit is a base station of a second radio access technology, RAT, and thenetwork unit is configured to receive and demodulate and/or decode anuplink, UL, carrier of a first RAT in an uplink frequency channeloverlapping with the uplink frequency channel of the second RAT. Thenetwork unit is further configured to forward information related to theuplink, UL, carrier of the first RAT to a base station of the first RAT.

According to a fifth aspect, there is provided a method of operating anetwork unit in a wireless communication system, wherein the networkunit is a base station of a first radio access technology, RAT. Themethod comprises receiving and demodulating and/or decoding an uplink,UL, carrier of the first RAT in an uplink frequency channel overlappingwith the uplink frequency channel of a second RAT, and transmitting adownlink, DL, carrier of the first RAT in a frequency channel of thefirst RAT that is higher than the frequency channel of the second RAT.

According to a sixth aspect, there is provided a method of operating anetwork unit in a wireless communication system, wherein the networkunit is a base station of a second radio access technology, RAT. Themethod comprises receiving and demodulating and/or decoding an uplink,UL, carrier of a first RAT in an uplink frequency channel overlappingwith the uplink frequency channel of the second RAT, and forwardinginformation related to the uplink, UL, carrier of the first RAT to abase station of the first RAT.

According to a seventh aspect, there is provided a network unitconfigured to perform management of time and/or frequency resources forradio communication in a wireless communication system. The network unitis configured to determine a time and/or frequency resource split of anuplink frequency channel between an uplink channel of a first radioaccess technology, RAT, and an uplink channel of a second RAT.

According to an eighth aspect, there is provided a method for managementof time and/or frequency resources for radio communication in a wirelesscommunication system. The method comprises determining a time and/orfrequency resource split of an uplink frequency channel between anuplink channel of a first radio access technology, RAT, and an uplinkchannel of a second RAT.

According to a ninth aspect, there is provided a computer programcomprising instructions, which when executed by at least one processor,cause the at least one processor to:

-   -   effectuate configuration(s) of a wireless communication device        such that the wireless communication device is configured with        an uplink, UL, carrier of a first radio access technology, RAT,        for transmission of the UL carrier in an uplink frequency        channel overlapping with the uplink frequency channel of a        second RAT, and    -   effectuate configuration(s) of the wireless communication device        such that the wireless communication device is configured with a        downlink, DL, carrier of the first RAT, for reception and        demodulation and/or decoding of the DL carrier in a frequency        channel of the first RAT that is higher than the frequency        channel of the second RAT.

According to a tenth aspect, there is provided a computer programcomprising instructions, which when executed by at least one processor,cause the at least one processor to:

-   -   effectuate configuration(s) of a network unit such that the        network unit is configured for reception and demodulation and/or        decoding of an uplink, UL, carrier of a first radio access        technology, RAT in an uplink frequency channel overlapping with        the uplink frequency channel of a second RAT.

According to an eleventh aspect, there is provided a computer programcomprising instructions, which when executed by at least one processor,cause the at least one processor to determine a time and/or frequencyresource split of an uplink frequency channel between an uplink channelof a first radio access technology, RAT, and an uplink channel of asecond RAT.

According to a twelfth aspect, there is provided a computer-programproduct comprising a computer-readable medium having stored thereon acomputer program according to any of the ninth to eleventh aspects.

According to a thirteenth aspect, there is provided an apparatus forcontrolling operation(s) in a wireless communication device. Theapparatus comprises an uplink, UL, configuration module for effectuatingconfiguration(s) of the wireless communication device such that thewireless communication device is configured with an uplink, UL, carrierof a first radio access technology, RAT, for transmission of the ULcarrier in an uplink frequency channel overlapping with the uplinkfrequency channel of a second RAT. The apparatus also comprises adownlink, DL, configuration module for effectuating configuration(s) ofthe wireless communication device such that the wireless communicationdevice is configured with a downlink, DL, carrier of the first RAT, forreception and demodulation and/or decoding of the DL carrier in afrequency channel of the first RAT that is higher than the frequencychannel of the second RAT.

According to a fourteenth aspect, there is provided an apparatus forcontrolling operation(s) in a network unit of a wireless communicationsystem. The apparatus comprises a configuration module for effectuatingconfiguration(s) of a network unit such that the network unit isconfigured for reception and demodulation and/or decoding of an uplink,UL, carrier of a first radio access technology, RAT, in an uplinkfrequency channel overlapping with the uplink frequency channel of asecond RAT.

According to a fifteenth aspect, there is provided an apparatus formanagement of time and/or frequency resources for radio communication ina wireless communication system. The apparatus comprises a determinationmodule for determining a time and/or frequency resource split of anuplink frequency channel between an uplink channel of a first radioaccess technology, RAT, and an uplink channel of a second RAT.

Embodiments of the proposed technology enables interoperability betweendifferent radio access technologies, while allowing improved performancefor users. By way of example, the proposed technology enables nextgeneration scenarios where wireless communication devices does not needto have a high-frequency transmitter and/or enables reliable controlsignaling feedback at lower frequencies.

Other possible advantages will be appreciated when reading the detaileddescription.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The embodiments, together with further objects and advantages thereof,may best be understood by making reference to the following descriptiontaken together with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of a wirelesscommunication system comprising network units operating based ondifferent radio access technologies and associated wirelesscommunication devices configured for operation in the wirelesscommunication system according to an embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of frequencychannels used for uplink and downlink communication by a first radioaccess technology and a second radio access technology according to anembodiment.

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of the overallstructure and configuration a frequency channel that can be used forcommunication in a wireless communication system.

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of a wirelesscommunication device configured for operation in a wirelesscommunication system according to an embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of network unitsconfigured for operation in a wireless communication system to enablecommunication with an associated wireless communication device accordingto an embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram illustrating another example of networkunits configured for operation in a wireless communication system toenable communication with an associated wireless communication deviceaccording to an embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of thedetermination of a time and/or frequency resource split of an uplinkfrequency channel, performed by an individual network unit or as part ofa negotiation between different network units, and the correspondingconfiguration of associated wireless communication devices.

FIG. 8A and FIG. 8B are schematic diagrams illustrating alternativeexamples of a negotiation of a time and/or frequency resource split ofan uplink frequency channel.

FIG. 9 is a schematic flow diagram illustrating an example of a methodof operating a wireless communication device in a wireless communicationsystem according to an embodiment.

FIG. 10 is a schematic flow diagram illustrating an example of a methodof operating a network unit in a wireless communication system, whereinthe network unit is a base station of a first radio access technology.

FIG. 11 is a schematic flow diagram illustrating another example of amethod of operating a network unit in a wireless communication system,wherein the network unit is a base station of a second radio accesstechnology.

FIG. 12 is a schematic flow diagram illustrating an example of a methodfor management of time and/or frequency resources for radiocommunication in a wireless communication system.

FIG. 13 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of thetime-frequency grid of an LTE uplink frequency channel with PUSCH andPUCCH channels.

FIG. 14 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of how a NXuplink is transmitted in the guard band(s) of an LTE UL carrieraccording to an embodiment.

FIG. 15 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of how a NXuplink is transmitted partly in the guard band(s) of an LTE UL carrierand partly also within the LTE transmission bandwidth according to anembodiment.

FIG. 16 is a schematic diagram illustrating a first example of how a NXuplink is transmitted within the LTE transmission bandwidth according toan embodiment.

FIG. 17 is a schematic diagram illustrating a second example of how a NXuplink is transmitted within the LTE transmission bandwidth according toan embodiment.

FIG. 18 is a schematic diagram illustrating a third example of how a NXuplink is transmitted within the LTE transmission bandwidth according toan embodiment.

FIG. 19 is a schematic block diagram illustrating an example of awireless communication device according to an embodiment.

FIG. 20 is a schematic block diagram illustrating an example of anetwork unit according to an embodiment.

FIG. 21 is a schematic block diagram illustrating an example of acomputer-implementation according to an embodiment.

FIG. 22 is a schematic block diagram illustrating an example of anapparatus for controlling operation(s) in a wireless communicationdevice according to an embodiment.

FIG. 23 is a schematic block diagram illustrating an example of anapparatus for controlling operation(s) in a network unit of a wirelesscommunication system according to an embodiment.

FIG. 24 is a schematic block diagram illustrating an example of anapparatus for management of time and/or frequency resources for radiocommunication in a wireless communication system according to anembodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Throughout the drawings, the same reference designations are used forsimilar or corresponding elements.

As used herein, the non-limiting term “wireless communication device”,may refer to User Equipment (UE), a mobile station, a mobile terminal, amobile phone, a cellular phone, a Personal Digital Assistant (PDA),equipped with radio communication capabilities, a smart phone, a laptopor Personal Computer (PC), equipped with an internal or external mobilebroadband modem, a tablet with radio communication capabilities, atarget device, a device to device UE, a machine type UE or UE capable ofmachine to machine communication, Customer Premises Equipment (CPE),Laptop Embedded Equipment (LEE), Laptop Mounted Equipment (LME), USBdongle, a portable electronic radio communication device, a sensordevice equipped with radio communication capabilities or the like. Inparticular, the term “wireless communication device” should beinterpreted as a non-limiting term comprising any type of wirelessdevice communicating with a network node in a wireless communicationsystem and/or possibly communicating directly with another wirelesscommunication device. In other words, a wireless communication devicemay be any device equipped with circuitry for wireless communicationaccording to any relevant standard for communication.

As used herein, the non-limiting term “network unit” may refer to anynetwork unit configured for operation in and/or for managing and/orcontrolling a wireless communication system, including network nodessuch as base stations, access points, relay nodes, network control nodessuch as network controllers, radio network controllers, base stationcontrollers, access controllers, and the like.

In particular, the term “base station” may encompass different types ofradio base stations including standardized base station functions suchas Node Bs, or evolved Node Bs (eNBs), and optionally alsomacro/micro/pico radio base stations, home base stations, also known asfemto base stations, relay nodes, repeaters, radio access points, BaseTransceiver Stations (BTSs), and even radio control nodes controllingone or more Remote Radio Units (RRUs), or the like.

It should also be understood that the term “network unit” may refer toany device located in connection with and/or for controlling and/ormanaging certain aspects of a wireless communication network, includingbut not limited to network units or devices in access networks, corenetworks and similar network structures. The term network device mayalso encompass cloud-based network devices.

The non-limiting term “radio access technology” generally relates to theunderlying technology for providing and/or supporting radio access in awireless network. By way of example, the term “radio access technology”may refer to the underlying physical connection method for a radio basedcommunication network: Examples may include Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, 3G, 4G orLong Term Evolution, LTE, and 5G or Next Generation, NX.

The non-limiting term “carrier” may refer to any physical and/or logicalinformation carrying structure that enables conveying information over aradio medium. In particular, the term “carrier” may refer to the radiosignal(s) carrying information. By way of example, a carrier may be seenas a waveform that is modulated with an input signal for the purpose ofconveying information at a given frequency or frequency channel.

The non-limiting term “frequency channel” may refer to a specificinterval in the overall radio frequency range that may be used for radiotransmission and/or reception. Normally, a given frequency range, calledoperating band, is divided into a number of frequency channels. Thefrequency channels may be regarded as independent entities, and maybelong to different operators. A frequency channel is typically definedby the location within the overall radio frequency range and has abandwidth, sometimes referred to as channel bandwidth, defining the sizeof the frequency channel. Frequency channels may be defined in thedownlink and/or uplink directions of communication.

The non-limiting term “channel” may refer to a frequency channel havinga given channel bandwidth, but may also refer to an information carryingstructure for operation in a given frequency channel, possibly dedicatedfor control information and/or user information.

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of a wirelesscommunication system comprising network units operating based ondifferent radio access technologies and associated wirelesscommunication devices configured for operation in the wirelesscommunication system according to an embodiment.

In this example, a network unit 20 is configured to operate based on afirst radio access technology, RAT and a network unit 30 is configuredto operate based on a second RAT. The wireless communication system alsocomprises wireless communication devices 10-1, 10-2, such as UEs, thatare served by the network units 20, 30 and configured for uplink, UL,and/or downlink, DL, communication with the network units 20, 30.

In the downlink, DL, the network unit 20 of the first RAT is configuredto transmit a DL carrier in a frequency channel of the first RAT that ishigher than the frequency channel of the second RAT. In other words, theDL carrier of the first RAT is transmitted in a higher frequency rangethan the operating frequency of the second RAT.

Correspondingly, the wireless communication device 10-1 is configured toreceive and demodulate and/or decode the DL carrier of the first RAT ina frequency channel of the first RAT that is higher than the frequencychannel of the second RAT.

In the uplink, UL, the wireless communication device 10-1 is configuredto transmit an UL carrier of the first RAT in an uplink frequencychannel overlapping with the uplink frequency channel of the second RAT.

Correspondingly, the network unit 20 is configured to receive anddemodulate and/or decode the uplink, UL, carrier of the first RAT in anuplink frequency channel overlapping with the uplink frequency channelof a second RAT.

By way of example, the first RAT may be a 5G or NX RAT and the secondRAT may be a RAT based on LTE, as will be discussed in detail later on.

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of frequencychannels used for uplink and downlink communication by a first radioaccess technology and a second radio access technology according to anembodiment.

In this example, it can be seen that the DL frequency channel of thefirst RAT is higher than the DL frequency channel (and the UL frequencychannel) of the second RAT. It is also clear that the UL frequencychannel of the first RAT is overlapping with the UL frequency channel ofthe second RAT. In a particular example, the UL frequency channel of thefirst RAT may even be the same as the UL frequency channel of the secondRAT.

In general, there may be propagation and/or coverage challenges athigher frequencies.

In addition to propagation limitations that may become more severe athigher frequency ranges, there could also be challenges in the ULcoverage since the UE maximum output power can be power limited(possibly even due to regulatory reasons). For example, electromagneticfield (EMF) regulations may limit the UE transmission power in the UL,especially at higher frequency ranges, e.g. above 6 GHz.

Also, the UL does not benefit so much from more spectrum since the totalpower is usually the same. The DL in the base station on the other handmay be able to provide more power when getting more spectrum.

It may thus be beneficial to have the UL in lower spectrum and a widerDL bandwidth in higher spectrum.

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of the overallstructure and configuration a frequency channel that can be used forcommunication in a wireless communication system.

As previously mentioned, a frequency channel is defined by the locationwithin the overall radio frequency range and has a channel bandwidthdefining the size of the frequency channel. Frequency channels may bedefined in the downlink and/or uplink directions of communication.Normally, a frequency channel has two guard bands, one on each edge,enclosing and “guarding” the transmission bandwidth within the frequencychannel.

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of a wirelesscommunication device configured for operation in a wirelesscommunication system according to an embodiment.

In this example, the wireless communication device 10 is configured withan uplink, UL, carrier of a first radio access technology, RAT. Thewireless communication device 10 is also configured with a downlink, DL,carrier of the first RAT.

In particular, the wireless communication device 10 is configured totransmit the UL carrier of the first RAT in an uplink frequency channeloverlapping with the uplink frequency channel of a second RAT. Thewireless communication device 10 is also configured to receive anddemodulate and/or decode the DL carrier of the first RAT in a frequencychannel of the first RAT that is higher than the frequency channel ofthe second RAT.

In an illustrative example, the wireless communication device 10 isconfigured to transmit uplink control information in an uplink, UL,control channel of the UL carrier of the first RAT in the uplinkfrequency channel overlapping with the uplink frequency channel of thesecond RAT. By way of example, the uplink control information is relatedto the DL carrier.

Although the proposed technology is generally applicable to differentradio access technologies, the first RAT may for example be a 5G or NXRAT, and/or the second RAT may for example be a RAT based on Long TermEvolution, LTE.

It should be understood that as defined herein LTE-based RATs includeall different types of RATs based on LTE.

It should be understood that a particularly useful application scenarioinvolves any RAT based on LTE as the second RAT, and any highergeneration RAT, irrespective of the specific label or naming of the RAT,as the first RAT, which at least for the downlink operates at a higherfrequency.

By way of example, LTE frequency channels may have a bandwidth selectedfrom 1.4, 3, 5, 10, 15, 20 MHz bandwidth at various locations in theoverall radio frequency range.

In the table below, examples of LTE frequency bands, also referred to asoperating bands, are given with reference to 3GPP TS 36.101, V12.9.0,October 2015:

E- Uplink (UL) Downlink (DL) UTRA operating band operating band Oper- BSreceive BS transmit Du- ating UE transmit UE receive plex Band F_(UL)_(—) _(low)-F_(UL) _(—) _(high) F_(DL) _(—) _(low)-F_(DL) _(—) _(high)Mode  1 1920 MHz-1980 MHz 2110 MHz-2170 MHz FDD  2 1850 MHz-1910 MHz1930 MHz-1990 MHz FDD  3 1710 MHz-1785 MHz 1805 MHz-1880 MHz FDD  4 1710MHz-1755 MHz 2110 MHz-2155 MHz FDD  5 824 MHz-849 MHz 869 MHz-894 MHzFDD  6¹ 830 MHz-840 MHz 875 MHz-885 MHz FDD  7 2500 MHz-2570 MHz 2620MHz-2690 MHz FDD  8 880 MHz-915 MHz 925 MHz-960 MHz FDD  9 1749.9MHz-1784.9 MHz 1844.9 MHz-1879.9 MHz FDD 10 1710 MHz-1770 MHz 2110MHz-2170 MHz FDD 11 1427.9 MHz-1447.9 MHz 1475.9 MHz-1495.9 MHz FDD 12699 MHz-716 MHz 729 MHz-746 MHz FDD 13 777 MHz-787 MHz 746 MHz-756 MHzFDD 14 788 MHz-798 MHz 758 MHz-768 MHz FDD 15 Reserved Reserved FDD 16Reserved Reserved FDD 17 704 MHz-716 MHz 734 MHz-746 MHz FDD 18 815MHz-830 MHz 860 MHz-875 MHz FDD 19 830 MHz-845 MHz 875 MHz-890 MHz FDD20 832 MHz-862 MHz 791 MHz-821 MHz FDD 21 1447.9 MHz-1462.9 MHz 1495.9MHz-1510.9 MHz FDD 22 3410 MHz-3490 MHz 3510 MHz-3590 MHz FDD 23 2000MHz-2020 MHz 2180 MHz-2200 MHz FDD 24 1626.5 MHz-1660.5 MHz 1525MHz-1559 MHz FDD 25 1850 MHz-1915 MHz 1930 MHz-1995 MHz FDD 26 814MHz-849 MHz 859 MHz-894 MHz FDD 27 807 MHz-824 MHz 852 MHz-869 MHz FDD28 703 MHz-748 MHz 758 MHz-803 MHz FDD 29 N/A 717 MHz-728 MHz FDD² 302305 MHz-2315 MHz 2350 MHz-2360 MHz FDD 31 452.5 MHz-457.5 MHz 462.5MHz-467.5 MHz FDD 32 N/A 1452 MHz-1496 MHz FDD² 33 1900 MHz-1920 MHz1900 MHz-1920 MHz TDD 34 2010 MHz-2025 MHz 2010 MHz-2025 MHz TDD 35 1850MHz-1910 MHz 1850 MHz-1910 MHz TDD 36 1930 MHz-1990 MHz 1930 MHz-1990MHz TDD 37 1910 MHz-1930 MHz 1910 MHz-1930 MHz TDD 38 2570 MHz-2620 MHz2570 MHz-2620 MHz TDD 39 1880 MHz-1920 MHz 1880 MHz-1920 MHz TDD 40 2300MHz-2400 MHz 2300 MHz-2400 MHz TDD 41 2496 MHz 2690 MHz 2496 MHz 2690MHz TDD 42 3400 MHz-3600 MHz 3400 MHz-3600 MHz TDD 43 3600 MHz-3800 MHz3600 MHz-3800 MHz TDD 44 703 MHz-803 MHz 703 MHz-803 MHz TDD NOTE: ¹Band6 is not applicable NOTE: ²Restricted to E-UTRA operation when carrieraggregation is configured. The downlink operating band is paired withthe uplink operating band (external) of the carrier aggregationconfiguration that is supporting the configured Pcell.

The 5G or NX frequency channels are expected to range from 1 MHz to 2GHz bandwidth at a carrier frequency from sub-1 GHz to around 100 GHz orhigher.

LTE will play an important role for the overall wireless accesssolution, especially for frequency bands below 6 GHz, whereas 5G or NXwill likely be mostly used above 6 GHz, although there may be a gradualmigration into existing spectrum.

In a particular example, the wireless communication device 10 may beconfigured to transmit the UL carrier of the first RAT in at least onespecific part of the uplink frequency channel of the second RAT.

For example, the wireless communication device 10 may be configured totransmit the UL carrier of the first RAT in at least one guard band ofthe uplink frequency channel of the second RAT.

Alternatively, or as a complement, the wireless communication device 10may for example be configured to transmit the UL carrier of the firstRAT in at least one dedicated part of the uplink frequency channel ofthe second RAT inside the transmission bandwidth of the frequencychannel.

By way of example, the wireless communication device 10 may beconfigured to receive configuration information indicating the at leastone specific part of the uplink frequency channel of the second RAT toenable configuration of the wireless communication device fortransmission of the UL carrier of the first RAT in the at least onespecific part of the frequency channel.

In an optional embodiment, the wireless communication device 10 may alsobe configured with a DL carrier and/or an UL carrier of the second RAT,based on Dual Connectivity or Multi-Connectivity procedures, as will bediscussed later on. This is a likely scenario for multi-RAT capable UEs.

As will be discussed later on, the wireless communication device 10 mayfor example be implemented based on processor-memory technology, wherethe wireless communication device 10 comprises a processor and a memory,and the memory comprises instructions executable by the processor,whereby the processor is operative to enable and/or support theoperation of the wireless communication device.

FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of network units20, 30 configured for operation in a wireless communication system toenable communication with an associated wireless communication device 10according to an embodiment.

In this particular example, the network unit 20 is a base station of afirst radio access technology, RAT. The network unit 20 is configured toreceive and demodulate and/or decode an uplink, UL, carrier of the firstRAT in an uplink frequency channel overlapping with the uplink frequencychannel of a second RAT. The network unit 20 is also configured totransmit a downlink, DL, carrier of the first RAT in a frequency channelof the first RAT that is higher than the frequency channel of the secondRAT.

By way of example, the network unit 20 of the first RAT may be a basestation specifically having an UL receiver for operation in the same oran overlapping frequency channel as the uplink frequency channel of thesecond RAT.

Optionally, the network unit 30 of the second RAT can also be servingthe wireless communication device 10 based on the second RAT. Thenetwork unit 30 may be a base station. For example, the wirelesscommunication device 10 may be configured with a DL carrier and/or an ULcarrier of the second RAT, based on Dual Connectivity.

FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram illustrating another example of networkunits configured for operation in a wireless communication system toenable communication with an associated wireless communication deviceaccording to an embodiment.

In this example, the network unit 30, which is a base station of thesecond RAT, is configured to receive and demodulate and/or decode anuplink, UL, carrier of a first RAT in an uplink frequency channeloverlapping with the uplink frequency channel of the second RAT. Thenetwork unit 30 is further configured to forward information related tothe uplink, UL, carrier of the first RAT to the network unit 20 being abase station of the first RAT.

In this example, the network unit 20 of the first RAT may be configuredto transmit a downlink, DL, carrier of the first RAT in a frequencychannel of the first RAT that is higher than the frequency channel ofthe second RAT.

Optionally, the network unit 30 of the second RAT can also be servingthe wireless communication device 10 based on the second RAT, based onDual Connectivity.

With reference to the examples of FIG. 5 and/or FIG. 6, the network unit20 may for example be configured to receive and demodulate and/or decodeuplink control information in an uplink, UL, control channel of the ULcarrier of the first RAT in the uplink frequency channel overlappingwith the uplink frequency channel of the second RAT.

By way of example, the uplink control information may be related to theDL carrier of the first RAT.

As an example, the first RAT may be a 5G or NX RAT, and/or the secondRAT may be a RAT based on Long Term Evolution, LTE. The network unit 20may thus be, e.g. a 5G/NX eNB and/or the network unit 30 may be, e.g. anLTE eNB.

With further reference to the examples of FIG. 5 and/or FIG. 6, thenetwork unit 20 (FIG. 5) and/or network unit 30 (FIG. 6) may beconfigured to receive and demodulate and/or decode the UL carrier of thefirst RAT in at least one specific part of the uplink frequency channelof the second RAT.

For example, the network unit 20/30 may be configured to receive anddemodulate and/or decode the UL carrier of the first RAT in at least oneguard band of the uplink frequency channel of the second RAT.

Alternatively, or as a complement, the network unit 20/30 may beconfigured to receive and demodulate and/or decode the UL carrier of thefirst RAT in at least one dedicated part of the uplink frequency channelof the second RAT inside the transmission bandwidth of the frequencychannel.

In a particular example embodiment, the network unit 20/30 may furtherbe configured to transmit configuration information indicating the atleast one specific part of the uplink frequency channel of the secondRAT to at least one associated wireless communication device 10 toenable configuration of the wireless communication device(s) fortransmission of the UL carrier of the first RAT in the at least onespecific part of the frequency channel.

Each of the network units 20/30 may be based on a processor-memoryimplementation, where the network unit 20/30 comprises a processor and amemory, where the memory comprises instructions executable by theprocessor, whereby the processor is operative to enable and/or supportthe operation of the network unit. This will be discussed in furtherdetail later on.

FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of thedetermination of a time and/or frequency resource split of an uplinkfrequency channel, performed by an individual network unit or as part ofa negotiation between different network units, and the correspondingconfiguration of associated wireless communication devices.

In general, there is provided a network unit 20/30/40 configured toperform management of time and/or frequency resources for radiocommunication in a wireless communication system. The network unit20/30/40 may be configured to determine a time and/or frequency resourcesplit of an uplink frequency channel between an uplink channel of afirst radio access technology, RAT, and an uplink channel of a secondRAT.

By way of example, the first RAT may be a 5G or NX RAT and/or the secondRAT may be a Long Term Evolution, LTE, based RAT.

As an example, the network unit 20/30/40 may be configured to determinesaid time and/or frequency resource split of the uplink frequencychannel between an uplink control channel of the first RAT and one ormore uplink channels of the second RAT.

In a particular set of examples, the network unit 20/30 may beconfigured to participate in a negotiation of the resource split.

In a first example, referring to FIG. 8A, the network unit 20 may beconfigured for operation based on the first RAT, and configured to sendinformation (BID) about the determined resource split to a network unit30 of the second RAT and configured to receive an acknowledgment(ACK/ACCEPT) from the network unit 30 of the second RAT accepting thedetermined resource split of the uplink frequency channel.

For example, the network unit 20 may be a 5G or NX base station.

In a second example, referring to FIG. 8B, the network unit 30 may beconfigured for operation based on the second RAT, and configured to sendinformation (BID) about the determined resource split to a network unit20 of the first RAT and configured to receive an acknowledgment(ACK/ACCEPT) from the network unit of the first RAT accepting thedetermined resource split of the uplink frequency channel.

For example, the network unit 30 may be an LTE base station.

If the offered bid regarding the resource split cannot be accepted, arejection may be sent. The rejection may be sent together with acounter-offer, or just as a simple rejection awaiting a new bid.

However, the negotiation may also be regarded as a simple hand-shakeprocedure, without involving the possibility of actually rejecting thedetermined resource split.

With reference once again to FIG. 7, it can be seen that the networkunit 20 and/or network unit 30 may be adapted to configure associatedwireless communication devices 10-1 and/or 10-2 based on the determinedresource split of the uplink frequency channel, as will be discussedlater on.

As previously indicated, the resource split may be determined by aseparate network unit 40, which may be configured for location in theaccess network, core network, OSS and/or even in a cloud-based networkenvironment.

For example, such a network unit 40 may be configured to inform a basestation 20 of the first RAT and/or a base station 30 of the second RATof the determined resource split of the uplink frequency channel toenable configuration of wireless communication devices associated withthe base station 20 of the first RAT and/or the base station 30 of thesecond RAT based on the determined resource split.

In the following section, the proposed technology will be described as amethod for use in a wireless communication device.

FIG. 9 is a schematic flow diagram illustrating an example of a methodof operating a wireless communication device in a wireless communicationsystem according to an embodiment.

Basically, the method comprises the following steps:

S1: receiving and demodulating and/or decoding downlink, DL, signalingin a DL carrier of a first radio access technology, RAT, in a frequencychannel of the first RAT that is higher than the frequency channel of asecond RAT,

S2: preparing uplink, UL, signaling for transmission in an uplink, UL,carrier of the first RAT, and

S3: transmitting the UL signaling in the UL carrier of the first RAT inan uplink frequency channel overlapping with the uplink frequencychannel of the second RAT.

By way of example, uplink control information may be transmitted in anuplink, UL, control channel of the UL carrier of the first RAT in theuplink frequency channel overlapping with the uplink frequency channelof the second RAT.

For example, the uplink control information may be related to the DLcarrier.

In a particular example, the first RAT is a 5G or NX RAT, and/or thesecond RAT is a RAT based on Long Term Evolution, LTE.

In a set of example embodiments, the UL carrier of the first RAT may betransmitted in at least one specific part of the uplink frequencychannel of the second RAT.

For example, the UL carrier of the first RAT may be transmitted in atleast one guard band of the uplink frequency channel of the second RAT.

Alternatively, or as a complement, the UL carrier of the first RAT maybe transmitted in at least one dedicated part of the uplink frequencychannel of the second RAT inside the transmission bandwidth of thefrequency channel.

In an optional embodiment, the wireless communication device alsoreceives configuration information indicating the at least one specificpart of the uplink frequency channel of the second RAT to enableconfiguration of the wireless communication device for transmission ofthe UL carrier of the first RAT in the at least one specific part of thefrequency channel.

It is also possible to share at least part of the uplink frequencychannel of the second RAT in a time-multiplexed manner between the firstRAT and the second RAT, as will be exemplified later on.

In the following section, the proposed technology will be described as amethod for use in a network unit.

FIG. 10 is a schematic flow diagram illustrating an example of a methodof operating a network unit in a wireless communication system, whereinthe network unit is a base station of a first radio access technology.

Basically, the method comprises the following steps:

S11: receiving and demodulating and/or decoding an uplink, UL, carrierof the first RAT in an uplink frequency channel overlapping with theuplink frequency channel of a second RAT, and

S12: transmitting a downlink, DL, carrier of the first RAT in afrequency channel of the first RAT that is higher than the frequencychannel of the second RAT.

FIG. 11 is a schematic flow diagram illustrating another example of amethod of operating a network unit in a wireless communication system,wherein the network unit is a base station of a second radio accesstechnology.

Basically, the method comprises the following steps:

S21: receiving and demodulating and/or decoding an uplink, UL, carrierof a first RAT in an uplink frequency channel overlapping with theuplink frequency channel of the second RAT, and

S22: forwarding information related to the uplink, UL, carrier of thefirst RAT to a base station of the first RAT.

With reference to the methods of operating a network unit of FIG. 10 andFIG. 11, uplink control information may be received and demodulatedand/or decoded in an uplink, UL, control channel of the UL carrier ofthe first RAT in the uplink frequency channel overlapping with theuplink frequency channel of the second RAT.

For example, the uplink control information may be related to a DLcarrier of the first RAT.

In a particular example, the first RAT is a 5G or NX RAT, and/or thesecond RAT is a RAT based on Long Term Evolution, LTE.

In a set of embodiments, the UL carrier of the first RAT may be receivedand demodulated and/or decoded in at least one specific part of theuplink frequency channel of the second RAT.

For example, the UL carrier of the first RAT may be received anddemodulated and/or decoded in at least one guard band of the uplinkfrequency channel of the second RAT.

Alternatively, or as a complement, the UL carrier of the first RAT maybe received and demodulated and/or decoded in at least one dedicatedpart of the uplink frequency channel of the second RAT inside thetransmission bandwidth of the frequency channel.

Optionally, configuration information indicating the at least onespecific part of the uplink frequency channel of the second RAT istransmitted to at least one associated wireless communication device toenable configuration of the wireless communication device(s) fortransmission of the UL carrier of the first RAT in the at least onespecific part of the uplink frequency channel.

FIG. 12 is a schematic flow diagram illustrating an example of a methodfor management of time and/or frequency resources for radiocommunication in a wireless communication system. The method comprisesdetermining, in step S31, a time and/or frequency resource split of anuplink frequency channel between an uplink channel of a first radioaccess technology, RAT, and an uplink channel of a second RAT.

In a particular example, the first RAT is a 5G or NX RAT and/or saidsecond RAT is a Long Term Evolution, LTE, based RAT.

As an example, the determining step comprises determining the timeand/or frequency resource split of the uplink frequency channel betweenan uplink control channel of the first RAT and one or more uplinkchannels of the second RAT.

As previously mentioned, the step of determining a time and/or frequencyresource split may be part of a negotiation between a network unit ofthe first RAT and a network unit of the second RAT.

For example, the method may be performed by the network unit of thefirst RAT, which sends information about the determined resource splitto the network node of the second RAT and receives an acknowledgmentfrom the network unit of the second RAT accepting the determinedresource split of the uplink frequency channel.

Alternatively, the method is performed by the network unit of the secondRAT, which sends information about the determined resource split to thenetwork node of the first RAT and receives an acknowledgment from thenetwork unit of the first RAT accepting the determined resource split ofthe uplink frequency channel.

The proposed technology also provides the possibility for wirelesscommunication devices to be configured based on the determined resourcesplit of the uplink frequency channel.

In yet another example, the method may be performed by a network unit,which informs a base station of the first RAT and/or a base station ofthe second RAT of the determined resource split of the uplink frequencychannel to enable configuration of wireless communication devicesassociated with the base station of the first RAT and/or the basestation of the second RAT based on the determined resource split.

Multi-RAT integration and Multi-Connectivity features such as DualConnectivity may also be of interest as a complementary part of theproposed technology.

By way of example, Multi-Connectivity or Dual Connectivity procedurescan be used to establish and maintain connectivity legs with radio nodesof different radio access technologies.

In existing multi-RAT integration (e.g. between LTE and UTRAN), each RATtypically has its own RAN protocol stack and its own core networks whereboth core networks are linked via inter-node interfaces. It is howeverpossible and/or desirable to provide a tighter integration of RATs.

In a particular embodiment, a tight integration of LTE and NX isproposed, e.g. to enable seamless connectivity to LTE and NX for a givenUE.

An example of a possible solution may involve RAN level integration,e.g. based on the LTE Rel-12 Dual Connectivity solution, with MAC layerintegration (which would enable multi-RAT carrier aggregation) orRRC/PDCP layer integration for LTE and NX. Here, the integration layermay interact with the RAT specific lower layer protocols (for NX and LTErespectively).

For example, tight integration aims to fulfill 5G user requirements suchas very high data rates by user plane aggregation or ultra-reliabilityby user or control plane diversity. User plane aggregation isparticularly efficient if NX and LTE offer similar throughput for aparticular user so that the aggregation can roughly double thethroughput. The occurrence of these cases will depend on the allocatedspectrum, the coverage and the load of the two radio accesses.

In addition to these, it is worth to mention that the tight integrationalso provide enhancements to existing multi-RAT features such as loadbalancing and service continuity due to the RAN level integration beingtransparent to the core network.

In terms of network deployments, LTE and NX can be co-located (e.g.,baseband being implemented in the same physical node AKA ideal backhaul)or non-co-located (e.g. baseband implemented in separate physicalnodes).

On the UE side, there may for example be UEs with dual radios, one foreach RAT, where each radio has a receiver and transmitter (RX/TX), andwhere these radios can be operated simultaneously. Such UEs will be ableto be fully connected to LTE and NX at the same time without requiringtime division operation on lower layers. From a specification point,tight integration may be easier to specify for this UE type. However,from an implementation point of view, two transmitter chains (uplink)operating simultaneously introduces new challenges, including the needto split the limited TX power across the two TXs as well as possibleintermodulation problems. Thus, there may be UEs with dual RX but singleTX, as these are easier to implement. Finally, there may also besingle-radio low cost UEs capable of both air interfaces, but only oneat a time.

In the following, the proposed technology will be described withreference to non-limiting examples with reference to LTE and 5G/NX asthe radio access technologies concerned. It should be understood thatthe proposed technology is not limited thereto, as already explained.

In a particular example scenario, the NX DL operates at higherfrequencies and the NX UL operates at lower frequencies. Possiblereasons for this setup may for example be a terminal not supporting ahigh-frequency transmitter, insufficient uplink coverage at highfrequencies, spectrum licensing, or power consumption in the terminal.

According to the proposed technology, the NX UL may share UL frequencychannel with another RAT, such as LTE.

For example, the NX UL may be operated at low frequencies in an LTE ULchannel, using NX waveform. In this way, NX UL and LTE UL may shareresources to create transmission opportunities for NX. At highfrequencies NX operates a DL carrier.

In some cases, NX UL will be restricted to control information such asL1/L2 UL control signaling related to the NX DL and “user” UL data wouldbe served via LTE (assuming the UE is connected to both LTE and NX).However, for DL heavy services one can even imagine that all NX UL istransmitted using NX UL.

FIG. 13 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of thetime-frequency grid of an LTE uplink frequency channel with PUSCH andPUCCH channels. At the band edges Channel State Information (CSI) istransmitted using Physical Uplink Control Channel (PUCCH) Format2/2a/2b. PUCCH resources for CSI are configured using the parameterscqi-PUCCH-ResourceIndex and cqi-PUCCH-ResourceIndexP1 (for antenna port1, if present), respectively. Via this parameter it is possible to movePUCCH Format 2/2a/2b inside the carrier.

CSI is followed by ACK/NACK feedback and scheduling request using PUCCHFormat 1/1a/1b and PUCCH Format 3. The starting position of PUCCH Format1/1a/1b in frequency domain can be configured via the parameter nRB-CQI.How far PUCCH Format 1/1a/1b extends inside the carrier depends onconfiguration but also changes dynamically, depending on the schedulingof users. Resources for PUCCH Format 3 are configured via the parametern3PUCCH-AN-List and n3PUCCH-AN-ListP1 (for antenna port 1, if present),respectively.

Physical Uplink Shared Channel (PUSCH) is normally transmittedin-between the PUCCH regions. Its frequency location dynamically variesdepending on scheduling and the scheduler must make sure it does notoverlap with the bordering PUCCH region which can “breath” into thePUSCH region.

NX and LTE may use different transmission schemes or parametrization ofthe same transmission scheme that are not orthogonal towards each otherbut interfere with each other.

As a starting point, the inventors have envisioned that NX may transmitits UL in the guard bands of LTE. This is possible since in a widebandLTE carrier such as 10 and 20 MHz some more subcarriers can be squeezedin without violating the out-of-band emission requirements outside thechannel bandwidth. If the data rate of NX UL requires more bandwidth, NXUL signaling has to move inwards and use frequencies originally occupiedby LTE UL. To avoid interference the LTE UL should be reconfigured andleave frequencies used by NX UL empty, i.e. NX and LTE eNBs maynegotiate and agree on an NX UL bandwidth and to reconfigure LTE toaccommodate NX UL.

Solutions provide reliable control information such as HARQ feedback ofNX at lower frequencies which is needed for good performance. It alsoenables scenarios where a UE does not have a high-frequency transmitter.

FIG. 14 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of how a NXuplink is transmitted in the guard band(s) of an LTE UL carrieraccording to an embodiment.

For an NX carrier that operates its UL in lower frequencies a UL channelmust be determined for its UL. For example, the NX eNB is informed of anLTE UL by an LTE eNB (e.g. via X2, or in case NX and LTE are served bythe same node via intra-node communication) or receives this informationfrom another node. Another solution is based on sensing.

Once the NX eNB is aware of the LTE UL it can place the NX UL in theguard bands of the LTE UL carrier. To reduce interference to LTE (sinceLTE and NX transmissions schemes may not be orthogonal to each other) NXcan apply filtering or windowing of its waveform. LTE—since alreadyspecified—cannot do that. However, NX is aware of that and can use extrarobust transmissions, e.g. low rate channel coding, to protect its ownUL. There can also be a guard band between LTE and NX if needed.

If the resources required for NX UL exceed the capacity available in theguard bands also resources used within the active bandwidth (e.g. 18 MHzin a 20 MHz LTE carrier) must be used by NX UL, as will be exemplifiedbelow.

To free resources originally used by LTE UL the NX eNB and the LTE eNBmay negotiate and agree on a resource split in the UL channel between NXand LTE. If NX and LTE are served by the same node via intra-nodecommunication, if they are two separate nodes they communicate via anexternal interface such as an X2 interface. Reference can once again bemade to FIG. 7. Even a third node can be involved in determining and/ornegotiating the resource split.

LTE eNB and NX eNB may thus negotiate a resource split in the ULchannel. After negotiation LTE eNB informs its served terminals aboutthis configuration and NX eNB does the same with its served terminals.Alternatively (dashed line in FIG. 7), an LTE eNB may reconfigure NX UEsif NX UEs are also served by LTE (connected via LTE).

FIG. 15 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of how a NXuplink is transmitted partly in the guard band(s) of an LTE UL carrierand partly also within the LTE transmission bandwidth according to anembodiment.

NX is still partly transmitted in the guard bands but also uses the mostoutward resources originally used by LTE UL. Examples of parameters thatmay need to be reconfigured can include cqi-PUCCH-ResourceIndex,cqi-PUCCH-ResourceIndexP1, n3PUCCH-AN-List, n3PUCCH-AN-ListP1, andnRB-CQI. Not transmitting in the guard bands but only within theoriginal LTE bandwidth is possible, too.

FIG. 16 is a schematic diagram illustrating a first example of how an NXuplink is transmitted within the LTE transmission bandwidth according toan embodiment.

In this example, the NX UL is placed between the PUCCH Format 2 andPUCCH Format 1/1a/1b/3 region. Such a reconfiguration could includechanges to the parameters n3PUCCH-AN-List, n3PUCCH-AN-ListP1, andnRB-CQI.

FIG. 17 is a schematic diagram illustrating a second example of how a NXuplink is transmitted within the LTE transmission bandwidth according toan embodiment.

In this example, it is proposed to place NX UL in the LTE PUSCH region,i.e. inside PUCCH Format 1/1a/1b/3. Here PUCCH may not necessarily bereconfigured but the LTE eNB must ensure not to schedule PUSCHtransmission at resources used by NX UL. In the example of FIG. 17, theNX UL is located at the PUSCH edge, but it could be even within thePUSCH region.

The different solutions can also be combined, e.g. parts of NX UL aretransmitted in LTE guard band and parts are transmitted within the LTEPUCCH region or within PUSCH region.

It is also possible to effectuate sharing of the UL channel between LTEand NX happens in both the frequency domain and the time domain.

FIG. 18 is a schematic diagram illustrating a third example of how a NXuplink is transmitted within the LTE transmission bandwidth according toan embodiment. In this example, a particular part of the LTE uplinkfrequency channel is also shared in the time domain between LTE UL andNX UL.

It will be appreciated that the methods and arrangements describedherein can be implemented, combined and re-arranged in a variety ofways.

For example, embodiments may be implemented in hardware, or in softwarefor execution by suitable processing circuitry, or a combinationthereof.

The steps, functions, procedures, modules and/or blocks described hereinmay be implemented in hardware using any conventional technology, suchas discrete circuit or integrated circuit technology, including bothgeneral-purpose electronic circuitry and application-specific circuitry.

Alternatively, or as a complement, at least some of the steps,functions, procedures, modules and/or blocks described herein may beimplemented in software such as a computer program for execution bysuitable processing circuitry such as one or more processors orprocessing units.

Examples of processing circuitry includes, but is not limited to, one ormore microprocessors, one or more Digital Signal Processors (DSPs), oneor more Central Processing Units (CPUs), video acceleration hardware,and/or any suitable programmable logic circuitry such as one or moreField Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGAs), or one or more ProgrammableLogic Controllers (PLCs).

It should also be understood that it may be possible to re-use thegeneral processing capabilities of any conventional device or unit inwhich the proposed technology is implemented. It may also be possible tore-use existing software, e.g. by reprogramming of the existing softwareor by adding new software components.

FIG. 19 is a schematic block diagram illustrating an example of awireless communication device 100, based on a processor-memoryimplementation according to an embodiment. In this particular example,the wireless communication device 100 comprises a processor 110 and amemory 120, the memory 120 comprising instructions executable by theprocessor 110, whereby the processor is operative to enable and/orsupport the operation of the wireless communication device.

The wireless communication device 100 may also include a communicationcircuit 130. The communication circuit 130 may include functions forwired and/or wireless communication with other devices and/or networknodes in the network. In a particular example, the communication circuit130 may be based on radio circuitry for communication with one or moreother nodes, including transmitting and/or receiving information. Thecommunication circuit 130 may be interconnected to the processor 110and/or memory 120. By way of example, the communication circuit 130 mayinclude any of the following: a receiver, a transmitter, a transceiver,input/output (I/O) circuitry, input port(s) and/or output port(s).

FIG. 20 is a schematic block diagram illustrating an example of anetwork unit 200, based on a processor-memory implementation accordingto an embodiment. In this particular example, the network unit 200comprises a processor 210 and a memory 220, the memory 220 comprisinginstructions executable by the processor 210, whereby the processor isoperative to enable and/or support the operation of the network unit.

The network unit 200 may also include a communication circuit 230. Thecommunication circuit 230 may include functions for wired and/orwireless communication with other devices and/or network nodes in thenetwork. In a particular example, the communication circuit 230 may bebased on radio circuitry for communication with one or more other nodes,including transmitting and/or receiving information. The communicationcircuit 230 may be interconnected to the processor 210 and/or memory220.

FIG. 21 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of acomputer-implementation 300 according to an embodiment. In thisparticular example, at least some of the steps, functions, procedures,modules and/or blocks described herein are implemented in a computerprogram 325; 335, which is loaded into the memory 320 for execution byprocessing circuitry including one or more processors 310. Theprocessor(s) 310 and memory 320 are interconnected to each other toenable normal software execution. An optional input/output device 340may also be interconnected to the processor(s) 310 and/or the memory 320to enable input and/or output of relevant data such as inputparameter(s) and/or resulting output parameter(s).

The term ‘processor’ should be interpreted in a general sense as anysystem or device capable of executing program code or computer programinstructions to perform a particular processing, determining orcomputing task.

The processing circuitry including one or more processors 310 is thusconfigured to perform, when executing the computer program 325,well-defined processing tasks such as those described herein.

The processing circuitry does not have to be dedicated to only executethe above-described steps, functions, procedure and/or blocks, but mayalso execute other tasks.

In a particular embodiment, the computer program 325; 335 comprisesinstructions, which when executed by at least one processor 310, causethe processor(s) 310 to:

-   -   effectuate configuration(s) of a wireless communication device        (10) such that the wireless communication device is configured        with an uplink, UL, carrier of a first radio access technology,        RAT, for transmission of the UL carrier in an uplink frequency        channel overlapping with the uplink frequency channel of a        second RAT, and    -   effectuate configuration(s) of the wireless communication device        (10) such that the wireless communication device is configured        with a downlink, DL, carrier of the first RAT, for reception and        demodulation and/or decoding of the DL carrier in a frequency        channel of the first RAT that is higher than the frequency        channel of the second RAT.

In another embodiment, the computer program 325; 335 comprisesinstructions, which when executed by at least one processor 310, causethe processor(s) 310 to effectuate configuration(s) of a network unit(20; 30) such that the network unit is configured for reception anddemodulation and/or decoding of an uplink, UL, carrier of a first radioaccess technology, RAT in an uplink frequency channel overlapping withthe uplink frequency channel of a second RAT.

In yet another embodiment, the computer program 325; 335 comprisesinstructions, which when executed by at least one processor 310, causethe processor(s) 310 to determine a time and/or frequency resource splitof an uplink frequency channel between an uplink channel of a firstradio access technology, RAT, and an uplink channel of a second RAT.

The proposed technology also provides a carrier comprising the computerprogram, wherein the carrier is one of an electronic signal, an opticalsignal, an electromagnetic signal, a magnetic signal, an electricsignal, a radio signal, a microwave signal, or a computer-readablestorage medium.

By way of example, the software or computer program 325; 335 may berealized as a computer program product, which is normally carried orstored on a computer-readable medium 320; 330, in particular anon-volatile medium. The computer-readable medium may include one ormore removable or non-removable memory devices including, but notlimited to a Read-Only Memory (ROM), a Random Access Memory (RAM), aCompact Disc (CD), a Digital Versatile Disc (DVD), a Blu-ray disc, aUniversal Serial Bus (USB) memory, a Hard Disk Drive (HDD) storagedevice, a flash memory, a magnetic tape, or any other conventionalmemory device. The computer program may thus be loaded into theoperating memory of a computer or equivalent processing device forexecution by the processing circuitry thereof.

The flow diagram or diagrams presented herein may be regarded as acomputer flow diagram or diagrams, when performed by one or moreprocessors. A corresponding apparatus may be defined as a group offunction modules, where each step performed by the processor correspondsto a function module. In this case, the function modules are implementedas a computer program running on the processor.

The computer program residing in memory may thus be organized asappropriate function modules configured to perform, when executed by theprocessor, at least part of the steps and/or tasks described herein.

FIG. 22 is a schematic block diagram illustrating an example of anapparatus 400 for controlling operation(s) in a wireless communicationdevice according to an embodiment.

The apparatus 400 comprises:

-   -   an uplink, UL, configuration module 410 for effectuating        configuration(s) of the wireless communication device such that        the wireless communication device is configured with an uplink,        UL, carrier of a first radio access technology, RAT, for        transmission of the UL carrier in an uplink frequency channel        overlapping with the uplink frequency channel of a second RAT,        and    -   a downlink, DL, configuration module 420 for effectuating        configuration(s) of the wireless communication device such that        the wireless communication device is configured with a downlink,        DL, carrier of the first RAT, for reception and demodulation        and/or decoding of the DL carrier in a frequency channel of the        first RAT that is higher than the frequency channel of the        second RAT.

FIG. 23 is a schematic block diagram illustrating an example of anapparatus 500 for controlling operation(s) in a network unit of awireless communication system according to an embodiment.

The apparatus 500 comprises a configuration module 510 for effectuatingconfiguration(s) of a network unit such that the network unit isconfigured for reception and demodulation and/or decoding of an uplink,UL, carrier of a first radio access technology, RAT, in an uplinkfrequency channel overlapping with the uplink frequency channel of asecond RAT.

FIG. 24 is a schematic block diagram illustrating an example of anapparatus 600 for management of time and/or frequency resources forradio communication in a wireless communication system according to anembodiment.

The apparatus 600 comprises a determination module 610 for determining atime and/or frequency resource split of an uplink frequency channelbetween an uplink channel of a first radio access technology, RAT, andan uplink channel of a second RAT.

Alternatively it is possible to realize the module(s) in FIG. 22, FIG.23 and/or FIG. 24 predominantly by hardware modules, or alternatively byhardware, with suitable interconnections between relevant modules.Particular examples include one or more suitably configured digitalsignal processors and other known electronic circuits, e.g. discretelogic gates interconnected to perform a specialized function, and/orApplication Specific Integrated Circuits (ASICs) as previouslymentioned. Other examples of usable hardware include input/output (I/O)circuitry and/or circuitry for receiving and/or sending signals. Theextent of software versus hardware is purely implementation selection.

It is becoming increasingly popular to provide computing services(hardware and/or software) in network devices such as network nodesand/or servers where the resources are delivered as a service to remotelocations over a network. By way of example, this means thatfunctionality, as described herein, can be distributed or re-located toone or more separate physical nodes or servers. The functionality may bere-located or distributed to one or more jointly acting physical and/orvirtual machines that can be positioned in separate physical node(s),i.e. in the so-called cloud. This is sometimes also referred to as cloudcomputing, which is a model for enabling ubiquitous on-demand networkaccess to a pool of configurable computing resources such as networks,servers, storage, applications and general or customized services.

There are different forms of virtualization that can be useful in thiscontext, including one or more of:

-   -   Consolidation of network functionality into virtualized software        running on customized or generic hardware. This is sometimes        referred to as network function virtualization.    -   Co-location of one or more application stacks, including        operating system, running on separate hardware onto a single        hardware platform. This is sometimes referred to as system        virtualization, or platform virtualization.    -   Co-location of hardware and/or software resources with the        objective of using some advanced domain level scheduling and        coordination technique to gain increased system resource        utilization. This is sometimes referred to as resource        virtualization, or centralized and coordinated resource pooling.

Although it may often desirable to centralize functionality in so-calledgeneric data centers, in other scenarios it may in fact be beneficial todistribute functionality over different parts of the network.

A network unit or Network Device (ND) may generally be seen as anelectronic device being communicatively connected to other electronicdevices in the network. By way of example, the network device may beimplemented in hardware, software or a combination thereof. For example,the network device may be a special-purpose network device or a generalpurpose network device, or a hybrid thereof.

A special-purpose network device may use custom processing circuits anda proprietary operating system (OS), for execution of software toprovide one or more of the features or functions disclosed herein.

A general purpose network device may use common off-the-shelf (COTS)processors and a standard OS, for execution of software configured toprovide one or more of the features or functions disclosed herein.

By way of example, a special-purpose network device may include hardwarecomprising processing or computing resource(s), which typically includea set of one or more processors, and physical network interfaces (NIs),which sometimes are called physical ports, as well as non-transitorymachine readable storage media having stored thereon software. Aphysical NI may be seen as hardware in a network device through which anetwork connection is made, e.g. wirelessly through a wireless networkinterface controller (WNIC) or through plugging in a cable to a physicalport connected to a network interface controller (NIC). Duringoperation, the software may be executed by the hardware to instantiate aset of one or more software instance(s). Each of the softwareinstance(s), and that part of the hardware that executes that softwareinstance, may form a separate virtual network element.

By way of another example, a general purpose network device may forexample include hardware comprising a set of one or more processor(s),often COTS processors, and network interface controller(s) (NICs), aswell as non-transitory machine readable storage media having storedthereon software. During operation, the processor(s) executes thesoftware to instantiate one or more sets of one or more applications.While one embodiment does not implement virtualization, alternativeembodiments may use different forms of virtualization—for examplerepresented by a virtualization layer and software containers. Forexample, one such alternative embodiment implements operatingsystem-level virtualization, in which case the virtualization layerrepresents the kernel of an operating system (or a shim executing on abase operating system) that allows for the creation of multiple softwarecontainers that may each be used to execute one of a sets ofapplications. In an example embodiment, each of the software containers(also called virtualization engines, virtual private servers, or jails)is a user space instance (typically a virtual memory space). These userspace instances may be separate from each other and separate from thekernel space in which the operating system is executed; the set ofapplications running in a given user space, unless explicitly allowed,cannot access the memory of the other processes. Another suchalternative embodiment implements full virtualization, in which case: 1)the virtualization layer represents a hypervisor (sometimes referred toas a Virtual Machine Monitor (VMM)) or the hypervisor is executed on topof a host operating system; and 2) the software containers eachrepresent a tightly isolated form of software container called a virtualmachine that is executed by the hypervisor and may include a guestoperating system.

A hypervisor is the software/hardware that is responsible for creatingand managing the various virtualized instances and in some cases theactual physical hardware. The hypervisor manages the underlyingresources and presents them as virtualized instances. What thehypervisor virtualizes to appear as a single processor may actuallycomprise multiple separate processors. From the perspective of theoperating system, the virtualized instances appear to be actual hardwarecomponents.

A virtual machine is a software implementation of a physical machinethat runs programs as if they were executing on a physical,non-virtualized machine; and applications generally do not know they arerunning on a virtual machine as opposed to running on a “bare metal”host electronic device, though some systems provide para-virtualizationwhich allows an operating system or application to be aware of thepresence of virtualization for optimization purposes.

The instantiation of the one or more sets of one or more applications aswell as the virtualization layer and software containers if implemented,are collectively referred to as software instance(s). Each set ofapplications, corresponding software container if implemented, and thatpart of the hardware that executes them (be it hardware dedicated tothat execution and/or time slices of hardware temporally shared bysoftware containers), forms a separate virtual network element(s).

The virtual network element(s) may perform similar functionalitycompared to Virtual Network Element(s) (VNEs). This virtualization ofthe hardware is sometimes referred to as Network Function Virtualization(NFV)). Thus, NFV may be used to consolidate many network equipmenttypes onto industry standard high volume server hardware, physicalswitches, and physical storage, which could be located in data centers,NDs, and Customer Premise Equipment (CPE). However, differentembodiments may implement one or more of the software container(s)differently. For example, while embodiments are illustrated with eachsoftware container corresponding to a VNE, alternative embodiments mayimplement this correspondence or mapping between software container-VNEat a finer granularity level; it should be understood that thetechniques described herein with reference to a correspondence ofsoftware containers to VNEs also apply to embodiments where such a finerlevel of granularity is used.

According to yet another embodiment, there is provided a hybrid networkdevice, which includes both custom processing circuitry/proprietary OSand COTS processors/standard OS in a network device, e.g. in a card orcircuit board within a network device ND. In certain embodiments of sucha hybrid network device, a platform Virtual Machine (VM), such as a VMthat implements functionality of a special-purpose network device, couldprovide for para-virtualization to the hardware present in the hybridnetwork device.

The embodiments described above are merely given as examples, and itshould be understood that the proposed technology is not limitedthereto. It will be understood by those skilled in the art that variousmodifications, combinations and changes may be made to the embodimentswithout departing from the present scope as defined by the appendedclaims. In particular, different part solutions in the differentembodiments can be combined in other configurations, where technicallypossible.

1. A wireless communication device for operating in a wirelesscommunication system, the wireless communication device having an uplink(UL) carrier of a first radio access technology (RAT) and a downlink(DL) carrier of the first RAT, the wireless communication devicecomprising: a communication circuit; memory; and a processor associatedwith the memory, the processor is operable to: transmit the UL carrierof the first RAT in an uplink frequency channel overlapping with anuplink frequency channel of a second RAT via the communication circuit;and receive and demodulate and/or decode the DL carrier of the first RATin a frequency channel of the first RAT that is higher than a downlinkfrequency channel of the second RAT via the communication circuit. 2.The wireless communication device of claim 1, wherein the wirelesscommunication device is operable to transmit uplink control informationin an UL control channel of the UL carrier of the first RAT in theuplink frequency channel overlapping with the uplink frequency channelof the second RAT.
 3. The wireless communication device of claim 2,wherein the uplink control information is related to the DL carrier. 4.The wireless communication device of claim 1, wherein the first RAT is a5G or NX RAT, and/or the second RAT is a RAT based on Long TermEvolution (LTE).
 5. The wireless communication device of claim 1,wherein the wireless communication device is operable to transmit the ULcarrier of the first RAT in at least one specific part of the uplinkfrequency channel of the second RAT.
 6. The wireless communicationdevice of claim 5, wherein the wireless communication device is operableto transmit the UL carrier of the first RAT in at least one guard bandof the uplink frequency channel of the second RAT.
 7. The wirelesscommunication device of claim 5, wherein the wireless communicationdevice is operable to transmit the UL carrier of the first RAT in atleast one dedicated part of the uplink frequency channel of the secondRAT inside a transmission bandwidth of the frequency channel.
 8. Thewireless communication device of claim 5, wherein the wirelesscommunication device is operable to receive configuration informationindicating the at least one specific part of the uplink frequencychannel of the second RAT to enable configuration of the wirelesscommunication device for transmission of the UL carrier of the first RATin the at least one specific part of the frequency channel.
 9. Thewireless communication device of claim 1, wherein the wirelesscommunication device is also configured with a DL carrier and/or an ULcarrier of the second RAT, based on Dual Connectivity orMulti-Connectivity procedures.
 10. The wireless communication device ofclaim 1, wherein the wireless communication device comprises theprocessor and the memory, said memory comprising instructions executableby the processor, whereby the processor is operative to enable theoperation of the wireless communication device.
 11. A method ofoperating a wireless communication device in a wireless communicationsystem, wherein the method comprises: receiving and demodulating and/ordecoding downlink (DL) signaling in a DL carrier of a first radio accesstechnology (RAT) in a frequency channel of the first RAT that is higherthan a downlink frequency channel of a second RAT, preparing uplink (UL)signaling for transmission in an UL carrier of the first RAT, andtransmitting the UL signaling in the UL carrier of the first RAT in anuplink frequency channel overlapping with an uplink frequency channel ofthe second RAT.
 12. The method of claim 11, wherein uplink controlinformation is transmitted in an UL control channel of the UL carrier ofthe first RAT in the uplink frequency channel overlapping with theuplink frequency channel of the second RAT.
 13. The method of claim 12,wherein the uplink control information is related to the DL carrier. 14.The method of claim 11, wherein the first RAT is a 5G or NX RAT, and/orthe second RAT is a RAT based on Long Term Evolution (LTE).
 15. Themethod of claim 11, wherein the UL carrier of the first RAT istransmitted in at least one specific part of the uplink frequencychannel of the second RAT.
 16. The method of claim 15, wherein the ULcarrier of the first RAT is transmitted in at least one guard band ofthe uplink frequency channel of the second RAT.
 17. The method of claim15, wherein the UL carrier of the first RAT is transmitted in at leastone dedicated part of the uplink frequency channel of the second RATinside a transmission bandwidth of the frequency channel.
 18. The methodof claim 15, wherein the wireless communication device also receivesconfiguration information indicating the at least one specific part ofthe uplink frequency channel of the second RAT to enable configurationof the wireless communication device for transmission of the UL carrierof the first RAT in the at least one specific part of the uplinkfrequency channel of the second RAT.
 19. The method of claim 11, whereinat least part of the uplink frequency channel of the second RAT isshared in a time-multiplexed manner between the first RAT and the secondRAT.
 20. A network unit for operating in a wireless communicationsystem, the network unit comprising: a communication circuit; memory;and a processor associated with the memory, the processor is operableto: receive and demodulate and/or decode an uplink (UL) carrier of afirst radio access technology (RAT) in an uplink frequency channeloverlapping with an uplink frequency channel of a second RAT; andtransmit a downlink (DL) carrier of the first RAT in a frequency channelof the first RAT that is higher than a downlink frequency channel of thesecond RAT, wherein the network unit is a base station.
 21. A networkunit for operating in a wireless communication system, the network unitcomprising: a communication circuit; memory; and a processor associatedwith the memory, the processor is operable to: receive and demodulateand/or decode an uplink (UL) carrier of a first radio access technology(RAT) in an uplink frequency channel overlapping with an uplinkfrequency channel of a second RAT; and forward information related tothe UL carrier of the first RAT to a base station of the first RAT. 22.The network unit of claim 20, wherein the network unit is operable toreceive and demodulate and/or decode uplink control information in an ULcontrol channel of the UL carrier of the first RAT in the uplinkfrequency channel overlapping with the uplink frequency channel of thesecond RAT.
 23. The network unit of claim 22, wherein the uplink controlinformation is related to the DL carrier of the first RAT.
 24. Thenetwork unit of claim 20, wherein the first RAT is a 5G or NX RAT,and/or the second RAT is a RAT based on Long Term Evolution (LTE). 25.The network unit of claim 20, wherein the network unit is operable toreceive and demodulate and/or decode the UL carrier of the first RAT inat least one specific part of the uplink frequency channel of the secondRAT.
 26. The network unit of claim 25, wherein the network unit isoperable to receive and demodulate and/or decode the UL carrier of thefirst RAT in at least one guard band of the uplink frequency channel ofthe second RAT.
 27. The network unit of claim 25, wherein the networkunit is operable to receive and demodulate and/or decode the UL carrierof the first RAT in at least one dedicated part of the uplink frequencychannel of the second RAT inside a transmission bandwidth of thefrequency channel.
 28. The network unit of claim 25, wherein the networkunit is operable to transmit configuration information indicating the atleast one specific part of the uplink frequency channel of the secondRAT to at least one associated wireless communication device to enableconfiguration of the wireless communication device(s) for transmissionof the UL carrier of the first RAT in the at least one specific part ofthe frequency channel.
 29. The wireless communication device of claim 1,wherein the DL carrier of the first RAT is in a frequency channel of thefirst RAT that is higher than both the downlink frequency channel of thesecond RAT and the uplink frequency channel of the second RAT.